WASHINGTON, July 7 (UPI) -- The U.S. Smithsonian Institution said it has dedicated its Folklife Festival to 2,500 languages that are predicted to disappear by the end of the century.
The festival is an annual celebration of world cultures on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and Sunday is the last day of the event.
Representatives at the mall are using a variety of art forms to express their native tongues as part of the festival, Voice of America said.
The fast-paced music of the Quechua language from South America, the throat singing of the Tuvan language in Siberia and the iconic dancing of the Hawaiian language is on display.
"It's a great experience to be with other cultures who are working to preserve and to ensure the survival and thriving of their languages," Aaron Sala, one of the musicians for the disappearing Hawaiian language said.
The festival also features other authentic cultural artifacts, like a Colombian rice grinder.
